Coaches' call: Hostplus Cup Round 7 preview

Tweed Seagulls v Brisbane Tigers

Tweed Seagulls coach Dave Penna: "We're getting that little bit better every week but we still have a lot of hard work to do. In patches we're playing really good footy and in other times we let ourselves down in simple areas. At the moment, it's just pleasing that we're improving. We're not sure of our final line-up for Saturday just yet. We're waiting to see what Titans boys we get back. Whether it's Keano Kini or Jacob Alick or both, they've been great for us. Coming up against the Tigers, they're last year's premiers and have plenty of NRL experience. They're very well-coached and a tough footy side. We have to be good in those little areas and work hard for 80 minutes. If we do that, we'll be in with a chance."

Brisbane Tigers coach Matt Church: "We didn’t execute last week against the Capras. Neither team executed well. A number of aspects added to that, including the rain. But our focus since has been on how well we defended. We celebrated the good things out of that draw. We worked so hard as a group and for each other and it was evident with someone like Tristan Powell’s performance. We now turn our attention to Tweed on Saturday. They were probably a bit like us to start the season. They probably didn’t start the way they wanted to and now they’re finding a groove. They’ve added Keano Kini and he’s a fair threat. But Tweed with Lindon McGrady, Will Brimson, those core group players, they have always been a threat anyway so we’ll have to be on our game."

Norths Devils v Western Clydesdales

Norths Devils coach Dave Elliott: "We went to Cairns knowing it would be a tough game. We knew we would have to play to the conditions up there. But in the end, we didn't play to the conditions, we didn't play anywhere near to our potential and we got what we deserved with that loss. The focus this week has been doubling down on everything we can control - our training, the way we prepare throughout the week, the way we prepare for game day. Everyone in the competition has shown they're capable of a good performance. Every team has won a game outside of one in the competition so you have to turn up every week. It's very important we don't take the Clydesdales for granted this week, being that team that are yet to win. We've spoken about the mentality required week in, week out. It presents a different mental challenge with a team that in patches have played really good footy but haven't found a win yet. Their first half against the Cutters (in Round 5), they were well and truly in the match. With every loss, teams certainly get more hungry and more determined for their first win. We'll have to be right on our game again. If we're not, it's anyone's contest."

Western Clydesdales coach Jason Alchin: Comments to come.

Souths Logan Magpies v Mackay Cutters

Souths Logan Magpies coach Karmichael Hunt: "The boys and the effort they showed against Burleigh compared to Sunshine Coast was a massive improvement. I can't fault the boys for the work that they did. It's been a common theme for us that the first five games we've been our own worst enemies with discipline. The penalty count was nine to four and you can't give quality teams like Burleigh that amount of football because they will hurt you. The focus is just to continue to work hard and we're looking to improve in all areas because we're clearly not where we want to be. We've asked everyone to be accountable, step up and cut the unnecessary penalties. There's also 50/50 penalties but there's some that are unacceptable that we need to be minimise. With Mackay, we're expecting a real quality team that are in form. We're looking forward to getting back home... we haven't been there since Round 2. After a few weeks on the road, we want to get back in front of our home fans."

Mackay Cutters coach Michael Comerford: "Last week's win over Wynnum Manly was probably a similar performance to our effort against the Capras in Round 3. A lot of the stats were against us and we were still able to come away with the win. It was a very exciting win and everyone is pumped about that. But we reflected on the weekend we had after the Capras match and how we went to Townsville and didn't improve and we got beaten. We played tough last weekend and hung on defensively but gave Wynnum way too much ball. We know we've learnt our lesson from last time after going to Townsville after a close win. We need to be better if we're a chance against Souths Logan. They're a big, skillful team and move the ball quite a lot and we need to be defensively switched on. They can be a threat from anywhere and it will be interesting to see how the line-up shapes up with (affiliate club) the Broncos playing Saturday as well. We're preparing for them at their best and we know they're a much better team than what the ladder is suggesting at the moment. They have a fair chunk of their team still from last year when they were a top four team and they're one win away from things clicking. It's our job to make sure it's not this weekend."

Central Queensland Capras v Sunshine Coast Falcons

Central Queensland Capras coach Lionel Harbin: "Heading into last round against the Tigers, we wanted a bit of improvement from the week before and we got that. But at the same time, there were opportunities for both teams to seal that game in the second half and neither could complete so it was disappointing from that aspect. For us, it's definitely about finding some consistency now with our performances. We've gone one good game, one bad game, one good game, so it's about stringing together the good games. The Sunshine Coast are a side that moves the footy really well, they have some good middles, and we have to do a job there. Luke Polselli brings them a lot of energy and we have to be really on our game. We've had some good battles over the last few years and it will be the same this weekend."

Sunshine Coast Falcons coach Brad Henderson: "After last week's win, it's clear to me that that control is still there. We talk a lot about our completion rates and that's been consistent for the last three games for us. We've set our KPIs and we haven't hit it yet in terms of completion rates but we're getting closer. The mentality has changed and there's more patience within the team and we're letting the halves run the show a bit. This week we'll need to be prepared for the Capras. I'm expecting them to bounce back physically after last week's draw. Our last three weeks - despite having scorelines that favoured us - we've played three physical packs so it's a good lead into the Capras. We haven't had a friendly trip to Rockhampton for two years. It's been rough on us and not been too good for us and it's in the back of my memory and I know our senior players are aware of it. We need to put us ourselves in the position to be in the 80th minute to win the game. The Capras are really in sync and throw a lot at you and ask a lot of your defensive systems. I expect us to be really good and there's that expectation in the group now that if we're not performing, someone else will come in and do the job."

Townsville Blackhawks v Redcliffe Dolphins

Townsville Blackhawks coach Terry Campese: "We’re competing in all of our games so far and what I mentioned to the boys after last week's loss to Sunshine Coast is there are key moments within games that we’re letting slip and we need to be more consistent. That's the word we’re using at the moment across the 80 minutes. This weekend will definitely be a grind to test us out, especially at 2pm on a Sunday in Townsville. We haven’t played in that environment yet. The Dolphins are playing some decent footy. I’ve been watching quite a few games and they have strike across the field. This week they get Sean O'Sullivan, who is a class player and throws a lot of options at you. Their forwards have been playing really well, led by their captain Max Bailey. We need to prepare the best we can to give ourselves an opportunity this week. They’re five from six so any team in that situation is playing really good footy."

Redcliffe Dolphins coach Ben Te'o: "The pleasing aspect of last week's win over PNG was that we travelled really well. We've been looking forward to these three weeks where we're travelling so we can spend more time together as a team. We got down in the game but stuck to it and ended up getting a win. It's not ideal to keep winning games in that way and, as a coach, to be put through that. They seem to really love to entertain the crowd with those close games and come from behind wins but we have a really high injury toll with our outside backs and have lost Trai Fuller to NRL. But we've been hanging in and getting some results and that's the pleasing part. This week in Townsville, we're expecting a happy club from the Blackhawks. We're hearing they're really enjoying themselves up there and they're a close group. There's a lot of experience at the NRL level and at this level as well. They know how to play footy and we understand for us to have any chance up there we have to be a professional outfit and go up there and perform."

Byes: Ipswich Jets, Northern Pride and Wynnum Manly Seagulls

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